Dear Friends
A quick hello and update from us all at the farm - as you have probably noticed, there are lots of lovely winter veg from the garden thanks to the growers and the usual steady supply of milk, eggs meat and cheese too thanks to all who work on the farmside! Apart from far too much rain making it difficult to plant next years arable crops, all is good here and we thank you for coming to shop and eat at the Farm Shop.
Its not long till Christmas so please give us any meat orders as soon as possible so we can all get organised. (you and us!)
All meat details here All the meat is from the farm except the turkeys. Best to email Hilary for special requests of large joints of beef, lamb and fresh pork. Please note advance orders are for 2kg plus only. Gammons available on the bone (half or whole gammons only) and off the bone - there will be lots of under 2kg joints in the shop chiller from the end of November, suitable to home freeze.
SINGLE USE PLASTIC FREE CHRISTMAS
A very challenging idea, but we are trying hard to help our customers go someway to getting there all the year round.
We now have storage jars and cotton bags (christmas gift ideas?) for storing and transporting the loose groceries we sell - over 50 different items at the moment with more to come. No need to buy shampoo and soap by the plastic bottle even now. Just bring your bottle back again and again. Always interested in new ideas for plastic free life. We are HOPING the dispensers for the household products will move with the times, but we have been hoping that for the full 20 years we have been using them....fingers crossed they will wake up to a new design idea soon.
PRESENT IDEAS, UNUSUAL, FAIRLY TRADED AND FAIRLY PRICED
Support our tiny workshop in Jaipur and give someone an organic duvet cover, a tablecloth, a spongebag, the best prettiest hankies, dressing gowns or a beautifully blockprinted hot water bottle cover. All printed by hand by Raju and helpers, you can see his amazing printing on the shop video or on the homepage of the rani website. Buy these in the shop or online if its easier at raniorganiccotton.co.uk our textile website. The more we can sell the more small scale organic cotton farmers find a market.
Also in the shop, lots of lovely warm handknitted Nepalese sweaters, old and reclaimed pieces of furniture large and small, candlesticks, beeswax candles, organic skincare, old brocade ribbon and lots of little bits and pieces.
BOOK A COURSE, and maybe come too?
If you are stuck for present ideas or don't want to give more 'stuff', why not give a gift voucher for a meal in the cafe, some organic bedlinen, a course at the farm or better still treat them to a day out together and both come!
Choose from the list here
For a really unusual present we have a weekend of WILLOW WEAVING in April. Enjoy learning new skills, eat delicious organic food and relax in the fab bedrooms here or come non residential for two days if you live close by.
If you have friends and family staying over the festive period bring them over to see us - the cafe will be open on the 27th, 28th and 29th December, 10 - 4 (cafe 3.30) with lunch as usual. See Christmas opening hours here.
VINTAGE HEAVEN IN THE GREEN ROOM - Saturday 23rd November 10 - 4
Coming up soon, please spread the word and come and support our annual vintage fair with lots stalls selling vintage goods. All the profits of the shop and cafe on the day go to two charities - the wonderful Paternoster School in Cirencester and our own Farm Project which runs March to Nov here on the farm and the schools that come are often looking for some help from us with funding the visits. As many of you probably know, the farmshop sponsors or part sponsors quite a few of the visits, so if you ever feel like donating you can do so here.
Hoping to see you at the farm soon, enjoying Christmas shopping without the stress.
love